Written Answers Monday 23 May 2005

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has commissioned into the effects of drinks promotions offered by the off-trade sector and when it expects any findings to be published.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive is in discussion with Alcohol Focus Scotland regarding the potential for useful research into the effects of off-sales promotions on binge and excessive drinking. Decisions on whether to conduct further research will be made following publication of the results of a desk survey currently being carried out by the Scottish Association of Alcohol Action Teams and due to report by the end of June.

Child Protection

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it provides to local authorities and/or the voluntary sector to deliver community care services for children and their carers who have been adversely affected by substance abuse by the children’s parents.

Peter Peacock: The Executive provides a range of direct and indirect funding to deliver community care services. Directly, it contributes £750,000 per annum to the Partnership Drugs Initiative, a unique funding partnership with Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland and Atlantic Philanthropies. The initiative provides almost £2 million per annum to voluntary sector organisations across Scotland working with children and young people affected by substance misuse. Twenty-nine of the 95 grants awarded to date have been for work with children affected by parental substance misuse.

  We are also providing £65.5 million this year through the Changing Children’s Services Fund for the co-ordination and delivery of locally prioritised multi-agency children’s services, including for children affected by the substance misuse of their parents.

  Indirectly, resources are provided to local authorities, NHS health boards as well as to a range of voluntary sector organisations to provide support to families, which may include those affected by substance misuse.

Cities

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its reasons were for allocating monies from its Cities Growth Fund only to the cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen, Stirling and Inverness.

Mr Tom McCabe: In response to the Review of Scotland’s Cities , the Cities Growth Fund was launched to provide a stable source of infrastructure investment funding for Scotland’s six cities as the keystones of a growing economy. The fund was allocated to the six cities not just because they include the four largest urban communities in Scotland but because all six are at the core of wider, mutually interdependent city-regions which play a vital strategic role in Scotland’s economic and social development.

Co-operatives

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making with the creation of a co-operative development agency.

Mr Jim Wallace: We have now agreed the framework of the new Co-operative Development Agency (CDA). The CDA will have an overarching enterprise focus to help in the promotion, creation and development of dynamic and sustainable co-operatives, and more generally to help maximise the contribution co-operatives can make to growing the Scottish economy. It will provide a means to promote the co-operative business model as a real alternative to other business structures and, at a practical level, it will deliver advice and information to new and growing co-operatives businesses – Scotland wide. The Executive will fund the new agency by allocating up to £3 million for this work over the next three years.

  The agency will be incorporated within the enterprise networks to ensure an appropriate level of integration with the broader business support structure. It will, however, have its own identity as a subsidiary company of the networks and operate with an advisory board, including representatives from the co-operative sector.

  We have already started our detailed discussions with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise on the establishment of the CDA and we are keen to set the body up as quickly as possible.

Commission for Racial Equality

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive the Commission for Racial Equality’s (CRE) annual report for 2004.

Malcolm Chisholm: We understand that the CRE intend publishing their report in June. It is likely that copies will be sent to ministers shortly thereafter.

Dental Health

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what account it has taken of research into the effects of artificial fluoride on the presence of naturally-occurring fluoride, in light of the publication of An Action Plan for Improving Oral Health and Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland .

Mr Andy Kerr: We are not aware of any research into the effects of artificial fluoride on the presence of naturally-occurring fluoride.

  The individual responses to the consultation Towards Better Oral Health in Children informed An Action Plan for Improving Oral Health and Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland and the subsequent announcement by First Minister that we will not be changing the current legislation on fluoridation of water supplies.

Dental Health

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental surgeries there were in each year since 1997, broken down by NHS board area.

Mr Andy Kerr: Number of NHS General Dental Practices1; at 31 March 2004.

  

NHS Board Area
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004


Scotland
947
956
956
963
960
959
958
969


Argyll and Clyde
74
74
69
72
73
71
73
80


Ayrshire and Arran
67
70
71
71
68
65
66
67


Borders
15
16
16
17
17
19
19
20


Dumfries and Galloway
27
27
26
28
28
28
28
29


Fife
57
57
58
58
58
56
56
56


Forth Valley
44
45
47
48
48
50
47
48


Grampian
74
74
70
71
71
72
71
70


Greater Glasgow
198
198
200
202
201
200
199
201


Highland
46
50
53
52
51
52
51
54


Lanarkshire
83
82
83
83
86
86
88
88


Lothian
169
167
166
164
163
163
161
159


Orkney
3
3
1
3
4
3
3
3


Shetland
3
4
4
4
3
5
7
9


Tayside
82
83
85
84
83
84
84
80


Western Isles
5
6
7
6
6
5
5
5



  Source: MIDAS (Management Information and Dental Accounting System).

  Note: 1. Dental practices with at least one dentist within the practice providing NHS general dental services.

Education

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils have been referred to independent special schools in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority area.

Peter Peacock: The numbers are given in the following table.

  Numbers of Pupils Referred to Independent Special Schools by Local Authority

  

Local Authority 
1997
1998
19991
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004


Aberdeen City
16
26
17
42
22
35
47
63


Aberdeenshire
40
46
38
48
45
54
49
53


Angus
3
6
10
7
13
8
11
15


Argyll and Bute
7
13
22
17
18
21
23
27


Clackmannanshire
10
7
8
12
10
7
8
5


Dumfries and Galloway
3
10
16
10
7
7
9
10


Dundee City
16
10
16
17
15
15
15
21


East Ayrshire
13
10
15
28
32
26
16
21


East Dunbartonshire
14
12
18
15
16
11
8
14


East Lothian
15
10
11
19
20
14
16
16


East Renfrewshire
14
15
7
13
11
4
5
21


Edinburgh, City of
8
74
84
98
63
85
88
90


Eilean Siar
103
4
6
4
4
3
2
1


Falkirk
45
49
51
61
61
46
43
56


Fife
19
15
14
20
38
39
36
33


Glasgow City
116
130
163
168
147
149
152
148


Highland
33
35
48
40
23
17
23
20


Inverclyde
15
22
19
14
18
20
22
26


Midlothian
21
12
14
21
23
28
29
34


Moray
6
6
5
5
2
5
4
6


North Ayrshire
44
47
54
49
46
40
33
56


North Lanarkshire
24
30
39
42
46
41
31
39


Orkney Islands
-
1
-
1
2
2
2
2


Perth and Kinross
19
20
24
33
28
32
26
34


Renfrewshire
36
32
38
51
47
54
47
66


Scottish Borders
9
8
11
14
12
18
19
21


Shetland Islands
1
2
1
3
1
2
1
-


South Ayrshire
22
22
13
26
34
31
26
42


South Lanarkshire
7
20
17
26
28
34
38
41


Stirling
20
17
19
23
22
19
18
19


West Dunbartonshire
9
19
38
43
37
40
32
48


West Lothian
44
39
46
46
35
32
20
24


Local Authorities Outwith Scotland
23
18
21
38
28
24
21
16



  Source: Independent Schools Census.

  Note: 1. Total pupils does not match figure previously published.

Europe

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any applications or notifications have been made to the European Commission regarding the granting of state aid in Scotland under the Framework on State Aid to Shipbuilding (2003/C 317/06) and, if so, what these applications or notifications were for, which Scottish shipyards have received state aid under the framework and how much state aid has been provided to Scottish shipyards under the framework since 2003.

Mr Jim Wallace: Since 2003, there have been no Scottish notifications made to the European Commission under the Framework on State aid to Shipbuilding.

Europe

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all successful applications for, or notifications of, European Commission state aid showing the amount of aid received and the reason for the application or notification in each case, in each year since 1999.

Mr Jim Wallace: Since 1999, the following Scottish state aid notifications have been approved by the European Commission. The Commission does not provide the funding. Its role is to ensure that state aid awarded by member states complies with EU state aid rules. We do not maintain central records of expenditure under each approved notification.

  Approved Scottish State Aid Notifications Since 1999

  

Notification Ref:
Title
Reason


N507/1999
Angus Fisheries Aid Programme
To provide financial help for small scale projects in support of the fishing sector (approved to run until the end of 1999).


N179/2000
Aid for salmon farms affected by the ISA disease
To assist ISA-affected salmon farming businesses to return to the trading position they held prior to the outbreak of the disease.


N480/2000
Motorola
Investment aid for the construction of a new plant.


N490/2000
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Structures (Grants) (Scotland) Regulations 2001
To provide the requisite member state contributions to trigger grant awards/payments under the EU’s Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance programmes in Scotland over the period 2000-08.


N 576/2000
Rural Development Plan (Scotland)
Voluntary schemes Environmentally Sensitive Areas, Countryside Premium Scheme and Rural Stewardship Scheme to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the countryside, to protect the nature conservation interest and to protect any historic or archaeological features.


N385/2001
R&D scheme for SMEs
To stimulate and support applied research and development by SMEs.


N490/2001
The Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) (Scotland) Scheme 2001
To approve the terms, including the level of payments to successful applicants, under SEERAD’s decommissioning scheme 2001.


N 497/2001
Grants for Owner Occupation
To provide more affordable owner occupation housing in Scotland.


N 527/2001 
HIE scheme for Initial Investment and Job Creation
To provide support for productive investment and for job creation linked to investment.


N680/2001
Property Support Scheme
To support the development of premises and buildings for commercial purposes by the private sector.


N213/2002
Project Atlas; Broadband infrastructure scheme for business parks
To provide broadband infrastructure on business parks.


N650/2002
Scottish Executive and Scottish Enterprise Research & Development Scheme
Assist enterprises to research and develop new innovative products, processes or services with commercial potential; Stimulate innovation and encourage best practice; foster the creation and development of new high-tech start-ups; strengthen the scientific and technological bases of industry; encourage co-operation between enterprises and the research base and help to effect wealth creation from the science base.


N 800/2002
Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ) Grants Scheme
Enabling farmers in Scotland to comply with restrictions on the spreading of livestock manures on land within the NVZ: investments in new or improved farm waste storage and handling facilities for livestock waste and silage effluent


NN 37/2003 (ex N 704/2000)
Processing and Marketing Scheme
Assisting in the processing and marketing of quality agricultural products in Scotland: investments, incentives to improve the quality of agricultural products, "start-up" help for producer groups, and technical support.


NN 36/2003 (ex N 292/2001)
Farm Business Development Scheme
Diversification of farm incomes by creating new enterprises or improving existing diversified activities for farmers: investments (in agriculture or out agriculture); technical support.


N 70/2003
Meat Industry Development Scheme
Assisting in the development of the red meat sector in Scotland: technical support, improving the genetic quality of livestock, investments in agricultural holdings, investments for processing and marketing of quality red meat and red meat products, encouraging the production and marketing of quality products, introduction of quality assurance and other quality control systems, producer groups and encouraging young farmers.


N127/2003
The Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) (Scotland) Scheme 2003
To approve the terms, including the level of payments to successful applicants, under SEERAD’s decommissioning scheme 2003.


N155/2003
The Sea Fishing (Transitional Support) (Scotland) (No.2) Scheme
To provide short-term support to help fishermen deal with the reductions in fish catching opportunities consequent to the interim cod recovery measures and to manage the process of catching sector restructuring and rationalisation.


N 230/2003
Meat Quality Advertising Scheme
Advertising the advantages of eating quality red meat and red meat products which comply with quality specifications.


N 231/2003
Generic Meat Advertising Scheme
Generic advertising of red meat products.


N244/2003
Credit union provision of and access to basic financial services
To provide access to financial services via credit unions for individuals who are without basic products and services.


N 363/2003
Farm Business Advice and Skills Service
To encourage business-oriented thinking among farmers and crofters faced with fundamental changes in their market place and industry, and to encourage them to take strategic decisions about the future development of their businesses, leading to financially and environmentally sustainable businesses.


N307/2004
Broadband for Scotland: remote and rural areas
To assist the provision of broadband services to businesses and citizens in remote and rural Scotland.

Europe

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all unsuccessful applications for, or notifications of, European Commission state aid showing the amount of aid received and the reason for the application or notification in each case, in each year since 1999.

Mr Jim Wallace: Since 1999, there have been no unsuccessful state aid notifications to the European Commission.

Europe

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much European Commission state aid was received and distributed in Scotland in each year since 1999.

Mr Jim Wallace: State aid is granted by member states, not the European Commission. The Commission’s role is to ensure that national funding provided by member states complies with state aid rules.

Europe

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15876 by Mr Tom McCabe on 25 April 2005 and given the requirement for confidentiality of discussions on EU matters between it and the UK Government as set out in article 19 of the Memorandum of Understanding, what opportunity the Parliament has for scrutinising work of the Executive on EU matters, such as submissions to European Commission consultations made by it through the UK Government.

Mr Tom McCabe: Scottish Executive ministers and officials are subject to full scrutiny by the Parliament on European Union issues. I recently appeared before the European and External Relations Committee to give evidence on Scotland’s contribution to the G8 summit and the UK Presidency of the EU.

  Complete confidentiality is, however, often essential in formulating a UK negotiating position in the EU and in developing tactical responses. The arrangements for the Executive’s involvement in the UK decision-making process rely on mutual respect for the confidentiality of information exchanged. This may include submissions to European Commission consultations made by the Executive through the UK Government.

Europe

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the proposal of the UK Government and others for a European Council Framework Decision on the retention of data processed and stored in connection with the provision of publicly available electronic communications services or data on public communications networks for the purpose of prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of crime and criminal offences including terrorism, and particularly on the proposal’s impact on (a) civil liberties and (b) electronic communications service providers in Scotland.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what opportunity the Scottish Parliament will have to scrutinise the proposal of the UK Government and others for a European Council Framework Decision on the retention of data processed and stored in connection with the provision of publicly available electronic communications services or data on public communications networks for the purpose of prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of crime and criminal offences including terrorism.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the proposal by the UK Government and others for a European Council Framework Decision on the retention of data processed and stored in connection with the provision of publicly available electronic communications services or data on public communications networks for the purpose of prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of crime and criminal offences including terrorism covers (a) reserved and (b) devolved matters.

Cathy Jamieson: The matters contained in this draft framework decision are reserved to the UK Government.

  The Scottish Executive supports the UK Government’s efforts to succeed in the fight against organised crime and terrorism and to work with other member states to deliver an area of freedom, security and justice.

Health

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to address health concerns amongst people with communication impairment, in particular with regard to the delivery of the sexual health strategy.

Mr Andy Kerr: Improving access to information about health services and access to such services is key to having a more inclusive NHS. This includes responding to the needs of disadvantaged groups including people with communication impairments.

  The implementation of the national sexual health strategy "Respect and Responsibility: Strategy and Action Plan for Improving Sexual Health" is still at an early stage. However, it contains a fundamental principle of ensuring equality of opportunity to lifelong learning and service provision in terms of sexual health and wellbeing. Taking account of the particular communication needs of individuals due to language, disability or other impairments will be addressed through a number of actions including the development of the national communications strategy on sexual health, the materials used to support school based sex and relationships education, and provision of easy to read information leaflets to promote sexual wellbeing and service access. At a national level, the National Sexual Health Advisory Committee will promote the use of the equality and diversity impact assessment to ensure that no-one is excluded from accessing sexual health services.

  In addition, in March 2003 the First Minister made a commitment to look at ways to double the number of British Sign Language/English interpreters in Scotland. The Scottish Executive has allocated funding of £0.5 million to support this commitment.

Health

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of specialist care and support is offered to patients who have a stoma, in light of the personal and delicate nature of the procedure.

Mr Andy Kerr: Prior to undergoing an operation of this nature, pre–operative education and support is recognised as vital for patient’s physical and psychological adjustment to living with a stoma. Specialist nurses and ward based nurses work together in the provision of this support for patients when in hospital.

  The formation of a stoma can be traumatic and life changing for patients. When discharged from hospital, patients with a stoma are visited by community nurses or stoma specialist nurses. These nurses provide education and support and through regular contact help the patient to restore confidence and self-esteem with the ultimate goal to return the patient to independence.

Housing

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Muslim community regarding access to Islamic mortgages in Scotland.

Johann Lamont: The Executive has had no discussions, to date, with either the Muslim community or with banks on Islamic mortgages for house purchase. The Executive has, however, had informal discussions on Islamic finance with the Council of Mortgage Lenders in relation to the funding of repairs, in the context of the Housing (Scotland) Bill.

Housing

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with banks in Scotland regarding the provision of Islamic mortgages.

Johann Lamont: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-16367, answered on 23 May 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Identity Cards

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on plans to introduce electronic entitlement cards for all Scottish citizens and whether such cards would be voluntary.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has made progress in two areas.

  Firstly, working alongside local authorities as the card issuers, we have completed an evaluation process to: determine the potential for a multi-application entitlement card, including the issue of more than 100,000 cards to citizens; test the roll-out of a young person’s version of the card with cards being issued to more than 300,000 young people; identify a suitable range of services for the card, including concessionary fares, cashless catering, school registration, proof of age, library and leisure services.

  Secondly, again working with all local authorities, we have put in place a framework for the rationalisation and replacement of the many disparate card schemes that currently exist, into a single – Scotland-wide - scheme.

  Both of the above have been delivered with support from the Modernising Government Fund as part of a wider programme of modernisation work with local authorities, called "Customer First".

  I can confirm that the card is voluntary and no-one would be denied access to the services that they are entitled to should they decline the offer of a card. Further information on the Customer First programme is available at www.openscotland.gov.uk.

Identity Cards

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether electronic entitlement cards will be connected to any national identity register or similar database.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive has no plans to link the entitlement card to any national identity register or similar database.

  However, within Scotland, there will be a need to develop a link between the entitlement card and an index of entitlement card holders. For example, to automatically cancel the account of that card holder and their entitlement in the event of that persons death being notified, or to automate the award of an entitlement should that persons status change, e.g. a national concessionary fare could automatically be offered in the event of that person reaching their sixtieth birthday.

  The establishment of the account, the account status and any data sharing that results from this will only be done with the informed consent of the citizen.

  These developments are at an early stage in the consideration of how an entitlement card scheme might work. It is part of a wider drive to improve the efficiency of our public services and the implementation of a more pro-active approach to the delivery of services. It is not about identity management and the need to create a national identity register.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how long each person for whom a European Arrest Warrant has been issued was held in custody before surrender.

Colin Boyd QC: Only one European Arrest Warrant has been executed so far in Scotland. In response to a request from Poland, a man was arrested and held overnight before being granted bail by the Court in Edinburgh.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the length of detention prior to surrender of each person whose surrender has been requested in a European Arrest Warrant issued by authorities in Scotland.

Colin Boyd QC: It is difficult to be certain in all cases exactly the length of detention undergone by those in respect of whom Scotland has issued a European Arrest Warrant, before their eventual return to Scotland.

  However, from the information available to me I can say that of the five individuals returned to Scotland since 1 January 2004 under the provisions of the European Arrest Warrant, three individuals were detained in custody in the executing state for periods of 52, 12 and 56 days. In respect of the other two individuals, I have no accurate information.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a European Arrest Warrant has been issued for any person in Scotland for an act that is not an offence in Scots law.

Colin Boyd QC: I refer to my answer to the previous question posed by the Member for Lothians, S2W-16299 answered on 12 May 2005 and confirm that all the five European Arrest Warrants so far received by Scotland relate to acts that are offences known to Scots law.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament/webapp/wa.search.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome has been of each European Arrest Warrant issued by a Scottish court.

Colin Boyd QC: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-16298 on 12 May 2005 in which I gave details of the outcome of the 16 European Arrest Warrants so far issued by Scottish Courts.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament/webapp/wa.search.

Justice

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to complete its review of the victim notification scheme.

Hugh Henry: It is expected that an evaluation of the victim notification scheme will start towards the end of 2005 and be completed sometime during 2006. The timing of the evaluation will depend upon there being enough participants in the scheme from which to draw a representative sample that is large enough to enable a meaningful evaluation to be carried out. At present, about six victims per week are joining the scheme.

Justice

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to extend the victim notification scheme, specifically in relation to home detention curfews.

Hugh Henry: The victim notification scheme provides victims who have elected to join the scheme with information about the release of prisoners sentenced to four or more years, and this will include any prisoners who will, in future, be released on licence on home detention curfew.

  Any decision to extend the victim notification scheme will depend on the outcome of the evaluation of the scheme. That evaluation will take into account new developments, including home detention curfews.

Mental Health

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the NHS budget has been allocated for the provision of mental health services in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: Each NHS board receives a general allocation of funds. It is for boards to decide how best to utilise these funds to meet the health care needs of their resident population, including mental health services, taking account of national and local priorities. The proportion of each NHS board’s total net expenditure that they spent on the provision of mental health services in each year since 1999 was as follows:

  

 
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04


Argyll and Clyde
15%
16%
17%
17%
16%


Ayrshire and Arran
14%
14%
13%
13%
13%


Borders
15%
14%
15%
14%
13%


Dumfries and Galloway
15%
14%
14%
12%
12%


Fife
13%
13%
13%
13%
12%


Forth Valley
15%
15%
15%
15%
14%


Grampian
15%
15%
15%
13%
14%


Greater Glasgow
16%
16%
16%
15%
16%


Highland
12%
14%
12%
13%
13%


Lanarkshire
13%
13%
13%
13%
13%


Lothian
17%
18%
17%
15%
16%


Orkney
9%
6%
6%
6%
5%


Shetland
10%
10%
10%
8%
9%


Tayside
15%
14%
13%
13%
12%


Western Isles
10%
10%
10%
8%
8%



  Expenditure on the provision of services for learning disabilities is included with that for mental health services.

NHS Waiting Times

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for dermatology services, broken down by NHS board, and what action it is taking to monitor this.

Mr Andy Kerr: The median waiting times for a first out-patient appointment with a consultant in the specialty of dermatology, following referral by a general medical practitioner, by NHS board of residence, in the year ended 31 December 2004, are given in the table.

  NHSScotland is committed to ensuring that from the end of this year, no patient will wait more than six months for a first out-patient appointment, including in the specialty of dermatology, and excellent progress is being made. This national maximum waiting time will be reduced to 18 weeks from the end of 2007. Performance towards delivery of these commitments is monitored regularly by the National Waiting Times Unit, and waiting times statistics are published quarterly.

  To assist NHSScotland to redesign services and reduce waiting times, the Centre for Change and Innovation is undertaking the largest out-patient improvement programme seen in Scotland to create sustainable change and assist NHSScotland to meet the national maximum waiting time of 26 weeks from the end of 2005. As part of this programme, the Skin Action Scotland national redesign project, which provides clinicians with the opportunity to test new ways of working which will improve patient access and reduce waiting times, is well underway. 11 demonstration projects across Scotland have been awarded programme funding of £1 million over the next two years, and nine have been awarded capital funding of £250,000 to support project objectives and planned developments.

  NHSScotland: Median Waiting Times for a First Out-patient Appointment with a Consultant in Dermatology, Following a General Medical Practitioner Referral, by NHS Board of Residence: Year Ended 31 December 2004P

  

NHS Board
Median Wait


Argyll and Clyde
67 days


Ayrshire and Arran
65 days


Borders
85 days


Dumfries and Galloway
19 days


Fife
76 days


Forth Valley
145 days


Grampian
92 days


Greater Glasgow
45 days


Highland
28 days


Lanarkshire
71 days


Lothian
49 days


Orkney
88 days


Shetland
102 days


Tayside
48 days


Western Isles
35 days


Scotland
53 Days



  Source: ISD Scotland, SMR00.

  PProvisional.

  Note:

  Excludes patients with an Availability Status Code.

Nuclear Power

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what contact it has had with the UK Government regarding the development of new nuclear power stations.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Executive has had no contact with UK Government regarding the development of new nuclear power stations.

Police

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-6584 by Cathy Jamieson on 4 May 2005 and given that the Prince2 methodology will have identified which resources were used and for how long, whether it is now in a position to state what the cost to date has been of the criminal history system replacement project.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Police Information Strategy and the Scottish Criminal Record Office are working to identifying their respective costs to date on the replacement project. I will write to the member with the information once it is available.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16158 by Cathy Jamieson on 5 May 2005, whether there are any rules or guidelines which cover the holding of media conferences by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons and, if so, what they are, who drew them up, whether they cover attendance or invitation protocols and how often they are reviewed.

Cathy Jamieson: HM Chief Inspector of Prisons decides whether or not to hold a media conference on the publication of a report. The Chief Inspector of Prisons is independent of ministers. He is not obliged to hold a press conference, but generally does so for full inspection reports. There are no rules covering this.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage night sanitation rate has been in each (a) prison and (b) young offenders institution in each of the last three years.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information is contained in the following table:

  

Establishment
% With Access to Night Sanitation as at 31 March 2002
% With Access to Night Sanitation as at 31 March 2003
% With Access to Night Sanitation as at 31 March 2004


Aberdeen
100%
100%
100%


Barlinnie
36%
55%
57%


Castle Huntly
100%
100%
100%


Cornton Vale
100%
100%
100%


Dumfries
100%
100%
100%


Edinburgh
55%
55%
78%


Glenochil
100%
100%
100%


Greenock
100%
100%
100%


Inverness
100%
100%
100%


Kilmarnock
100%
100%
100%


Low Moss
100%
100%
100%


Noranside
100%
100%
100%


Perth
74%
74%
74%


Peterhead
3%
3%
3%


Polmont Young Offenders Institution
61%
76%
76%


Shotts
100%
100%
100%

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the staff complement has been of each (a) prison and (b) young offenders institution in each of the last three years.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  

Establishment
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04


Aberdeen
164
164
169


Barlinnie
606
589
602


Castle Huntly
72
69
69


Cornton Vale
247
256
259


Dumfries
160
154
153


Edinburgh
478
468
468


Glenochil
474
474
474


Greenock
186
189
203


Inverness
110
111
112


Low Moss
168
172
172


Noranside
72
64
64


Perth
452
431
441


Peterhead
250
241
234


Polmont
351
345
345


Shotts
449
436
417

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff have been in post in each (a) prison and (b) young offenders institution in each of the last three years.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  

 
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04


Aberdeen
159
158
154


Barlinnie
584
596
600


Castle Huntly
70
69
66


Cornton Vale
239
270
255


Dumfries
158
150
155


Edinburgh
450
465
465


Glenochil
470
459
461


Greenock
186
193
209


Inverness
108
109
109


Low Moss
172
181
174


Noranside
70
62
60


Perth
434
426
441


Peterhead
228
210
219


Polmont
348
349
364


Shotts
442
421
416

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) design and (b) available capacity is of each (i) prison and (ii) young offenders institution.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information is contained in the following table:

  

Establishment
Design Capacity as at 31 March 2004
Available Capacity as at 31 March 2004


Aberdeen
154
154


Barlinnie
999
999


Castle Huntly
156
156


Cornton Vale
275
275


Dumfries
178
178


Edinburgh
637
637


Glenochil
496
496


Greenock
254
254


Inverness
108
108


Kilmarnock
596
596


Low Moss
326
326


Noranside
135
135


Perth
596
596


Peterhead
306
306


Polmont 
650
650


Shotts
528
516


Total
6,394
6,382

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage overcrowding level has been in each (a) prison and (b) young offenders institution in each of the last three years.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The daily information is not available. Comparing the annual average prisoner population with the capacity gives the following percentages for the last three years for which audited figures are currently available.

  

Establishment
2001-02%
2002-03%
2003-04%


Aberdeen
122
136
144


Barlinnie
114
116
112


Castle Huntly
90
94
98


Cornton Vale
103
106
93


Dumfries
81
97
106


Edinburgh
114
113
94


Glenochil 
86
84
79


Greenock
127
127
121


Inverness
123
133
138


Kilmarnock
98
98
99


Low Moss
84
76
85


Noranside
76
88
98


Perth
85
99
114


Peterhead
95
96
102


Polmont
102
105
96


Shotts
97
92
89


Zeist
50

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many assaults on staff there have been in each (a) prison and (b) young offenders institution in each of the last three years.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The number of serious assaults by prisoner on staff is published in SPS Annual Reports. The breakdown by establishment was:

  

Establishment
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04


Aberdeen
 
 
 


Barlinnie
1
4
1


Castle Huntly
 
 
 


Cornton Vale
2
 
 


Dumfries
1
 
 


Dungavel
 
 
 


Edinburgh
1
1
1


Glenochil
1
2
3


Greenock
 
1
 


Inverness
 
 
1


Kilmarnock
2
6
1


Low Moss
 
 
 


Noranside
 
 
 


Perth
1
1
 


Peterhead
 
 
2


Polmont
1
3
1


Shotts
2
11
1

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how may incidents of refusals to undergo a mandatory drug test there have been in each (a) prison and (b) young offenders institution in each of the last three years.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information for 2003-04 is:

  

 
2003-04


Aberdeen
4


Barlinnie
16


Castle Huntly
1


Cornton Vale
14


Dumfries
3


Edinburgh
17


Glenochil
11


Greenock
8


Inverness
5


Kilmarnock
72


Low Moss
0


Noranside
3


Perth
56


Peterhead
1


Polmont
23


Shotts
25


Total
259



  Such information was not collected prior to 2003-04.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16252 by Cathy Jamieson on 11 May 2005, what the timetable is for HM Chief Inspector of Prisons to finalise his plans "to inspect the conditions in which prisoners are transported or held in pursuance of prisoner escort arrangements".

Cathy Jamieson: The Chief Inspector hopes to finalise his plans in financial year 2005-06.

Prison Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it reconciles the answer to question S1W-33063 by Mr Jim Wallace on 21 January 2003 with the answer to question S2W-16105 by Cathy Jamieson on 4 May 2005 in respect of how often the controller of HM Prison Kilmarnock has agreed that a cell may be shared by two prisoners under section 23.4.1 of the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock in each quarter of the prison’s operation and in the current year to date and whether it will provide a revised answer to question S2W-16105.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The answer provided to questions S1W-33063 and S2W-16105 were correct. The answer to question S2W-16105 was intended to convey the fact that no instances of section 23.4.1 being invoked had been recorded since question S1W-33063 was answered. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Prison Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the maximum limit of 5% of contract price for performance revenue deduction, as referred to in the second paragraph of Schedule F to the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Limited for the Design, Construction, Management and Financing of a Prison at Kilmarnock , has been applied, broken down by quarter since the prison opened.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  I refer the member to the answers to the answers to questions S2W-1868 on 1 September 2003 and S1W-33964 on 24 February 2003. The position has not changed. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16176 by Cathy Jamieson on 9 May 2005, whether HM Chief Inspector of Prisons will revert to the policy of his predecessor of allowing MSPs to attend his press conferences and of issuing his reports and news releases to MSPs at the same time as he issues the documents to the media.

Cathy Jamieson: The Chief Inspector is satisfied that the current arrangements allow for transparent and open reporting of his findings. Embargoed reports for relevant MSPs are sent out the day before the report is published.

Prison Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-8485 and S2W-10935 by Cathy Jamieson on 8 June 2004 and 19 October 2004, how many prison officer hours have now been released from prisoner transport duties as a result of the contract with Reliance Secure Task Management Ltd for the provision of prisoner escort and court custody services.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-10935 on 19 October 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament/webapp/wa.search.

Prisoner Escorts

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide the full terms of its agreement with Reliance Secure Task Management Ltd regarding the monthly performance summary of the contract for the provision of prisoner escort and court custody services.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The SPS and Reliance Secure Task Management Ltd and have agreed that the following performance summary information can be released:

  Prisoner movements

  Police Custody to Court

  Prisons to Court

  Hospital to Court

  Court to Court

  Other

  Performance

  On time delivery to Court

  Prisoners unlawfully at large

  Financial

  Payment due to Service Provider

  This information is published quarterly in arrears on the SPS website which can be found by clicking on the following link http://www.sps.gov.uk/keydocs/reliance/html/nstats2.htm

Public Sector

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage share of (a) GDP and (b) employment levels was accounted for by the public sector in each of the last 10 years, showing the year-on-year and cumulative changes.

Mr Tom McCabe: The industry breakdown of gross value added (GVA) presented in Table 1 is based on the Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities (SIC) system. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at basic prices is commonly referred to as GVA.

  This time series provides the closest available approximation of the percentage shares of GDP accounted for by the public sector in Scotland, though it should be noted that the SIC system categorises output by industry and does not draw an explicit distinction between activities carried out in the public and private sectors. These estimates therefore include an element of private sector activity within education and health.

  Table 1

  

Year
Public Admin, Education and Health GVA as % of total Scottish GVA


1992
21.7%


1993
21.5%


1994
20.9%


1995
20.8%


1996
20.5%


1997
20.2%


1998
20.1%


1999
20.7%


2000
21.3%


2001
21.7%


2002
21.9%



  Source: Office for National Statistics, Regional Accounts.

  Table 2 shows the proportion of total employment accounted for by employment in the public sector as well as the year-on-year and cumulative percentage point changes. These estimates are taken from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) which is carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

  ONS has acknowledged that the level of public sector employment recorded by the LFS is over-estimated. This overestimation is caused by the fact that the LFS is self-reported and some people mistakenly believe they work for the public sector when in fact they are employed by private organisations which are contracted to work in the public sector. Such misreporting can arise, for example, when catering staff working in hospitals believe they work in the public sector when they are in fact employed by a private sector catering business.

  Analytical Services Division in Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department are developing a public sector employment series taken from administrative data. This series will give a more accurate reflection of the size if the public sector in Scotland. The series will be published for the first time in summer 2005.

  Table 2

  Public Sector Employment as a Proportion of Total Employment in Scotland

  

 
Public Sector Employment Level
Public Sector as a proportion of Total Employment
Percentage Point Change


Change Year on Year
Cumulative change since 1995


Spring 1995
685,000
30.4%
 N/A
 N/A


Spring 1996
634,000
28.6%
-1.9 pp
-1.9 pp


Spring 1997
622,000
27.7%
-0.9 pp 
-2.8 pp


Spring 1998
628,000
27.6%
0.0 pp
-2.8 pp


Spring 1999
608,000
27.0%
-0.7 pp
-3.5 pp


Spring 2000
638,000
27.9%
0.9 pp
-2.6 pp


Spring 2001
644,000
27.6%
-0.3 pp
-2.8 pp


Spring 2002
649,000
27.9%
0.3 pp
-2.6 pp


Spring 2003
657,000
27.6%
-0.2 pp
-2.8 pp


Spring 2004
668,000
27.9%
0.3 pp
-2.5 pp



  Source: Labour Force Survey, Spring Quarters (March-May).

  Notes:

  Levels has been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Data are not seasonally adjusted.

  pp – percentage point.

Rail Services

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the Aberdeen Crossrail project to be completed.

Nicol Stephen: We expect to receive part 1 of the final Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance report from Aberdeenshire/Aberdeen City Council shortly. This will put forward a number of options, and recommendations for taking these forward.

Rail Services

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reopen suburban railway stations in Aberdeen.

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to construct new suburban railway stations in Aberdeen.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is supporting feasibility studies into the reopening of Laurencekirk Station and stations relating to the Aberdeen Crossrail Project.

Renewable Energy

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the potential impact on the marine environment of offshore wind farms has been assessed.

Mr Jim Wallace: We aim to commence a Strategic Environmental Assessment of parts of Scotland’s coastline this summer. The assessment will provide valuable information on environmental considerations which will steer our decisions on the future development of offshore renewable energy technologies.

Renewable Energy

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much electricity the new Rothes Windfarm at Cairn Uish has generated in its first week and how much the wind farm is projected to generate over a year.

Mr Jim Wallace: Rothes windfarm is expected to generate an estimated 120 to 145 gigawatt hours of electricity per annum. Information about weekly output of individual windfarms is not available centrally.

Renewable Energy

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make an announcement on the proposal to build a maximum 3 megawatt hydro-electric generating scheme at River E, near Loch Mhor, Inverness-shire.

Allan Wilson: I can announce that the Scottish ministers have granted consent to this proposal in terms of section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. Additionally, this consent carries deemed planning permission in terms of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.

  This announcement follows a lengthy consultation process which involved government bodies and members of the public. Following consultation with The Highland Council, conditions were attached to this consent to safeguard local and environmental interests.

Road Safety

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to advertise the dangers of mini moto motorbikes or to highlight that their use in public places is illegal.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive currently has no such plans.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which helplines it has (a) wholly and (b) partly funded in each year since 1999, showing amount of funding allocated to, and number of calls processed by, each helpline.

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all telephone information lines and helplines that it funded in each of the last three years, giving information on the relevant organisations and showing the number of calls made each year and staff numbers and costs in each case.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Scottish Executive Procurement

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has paid, or will pay, to Holyrood Communications Ltd in respect of the Africa Conference on 16 May 2005.

Patricia Ferguson: Following a competitive tendering exercise, run in conjunction with the Scottish Procurement Directorate, in which six companies were invited to submit tenders to facilitate the 16 May conference, Holyrood Communications’ fixed price bid of £12,470 (excluding VAT) was assessed as providing the best value and they were awarded the contract on that basis.

Scottish Executive Staff

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many claims have been made to employment tribunals on the grounds of sex discrimination against each of its agencies and non-departmental public bodies in each year since 1999, broken down by agency and public body.

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many claims have been made to employment tribunals on the grounds of equal pay against each of its agencies and non-departmental public bodies in each year since 1999, broken down by agency and public body.

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many claims have been made to employment tribunals on the grounds of sexual harassment against each of its agencies and non-departmental public bodies in each year since 1999, broken down by agency and public body.

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many claims have been made to employment tribunals in relation to recruitment and selection against each of its agencies and non-departmental public bodies in each year since 1999, broken down by agency and public body.

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many claims have been made to employment tribunals in relation to (a) maternity and parental rights and (b) family-friendly working hours against each of its agencies and non-departmental public bodies in each year since 1999, broken down by agency and public body.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive does not hold information on the number of employment tribunal cases relating to the agencies of its main bargaining unit on a central database prior to January 2005 and it could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Information relating to agencies outwith the main bargaining unit and other non-departmental public bodies is a matter for them. However, the Central Office of the Employment Tribunals in Scotland, The Eagle Building, 215 Bothwell Street, Glasgow, holds a public record of all Employment Tribunal cases brought in Scotland.

Scottish Executive Staff

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its officials in the highest 20% salary bracket work more than an average of 40 hours per week.

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its officials in the lowest 20% salary bracket work more than an average of 40 hours per week.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive does not currently hold information centrally about the average working hours of staff. Line managers are responsible for the monitoring and management of the working hours of their staff.

Shipbuilding

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much state aid has been made available to Ferguson’s Shipbuilders Ltd in each year since 1999, showing what the aid was for in each case.

Mr Jim Wallace: Since 1999 Ferguson shipbuilders has been in receipt of a total of £4,338,508 assistance from the Shipbuilding Intervention Fund administered by the DTI. HM Customs and Excise also provided assistance at 2% of contract value under the shipbuilder’s relief fund during this period. A further £92,946.80 direct grant state aid came from Scottish Enterprise Renfrewshire and Inverclyde council, plus the company benefited from national training programmes support for initiatives started prior to 1999. Other than the Shipbuilding Intervention Fund and Shipbuilders Relief Assistance, all of this aid has been in support of training delivery including manual skills, safety, quality and change management programmes. Support has been as follows:

  Shipbuilding Intervention Fund

  1999 - £1,597,802

  2000 - £1,274,304

  2001 - £1,266,790

  2002 - £132,922

  2003 - £66,690

  SE Renfrewshire:

  1999 - £8,000

  2000 - NIL

  2001 - £23,095

  2002 - £5,580

  2003 - £34,373.7

  2004 - £7,000

  2005 - £3,648.1

  Inverclyde council:

  2000 - £3,250

  2001 - £3,000

  2003 - £5,000 (not yet drawn)

  A total £147,316 has been also been provided through assistance to training providers for four-year national training programmes with start dates from 1996 to 2000. The benefits from these programmes have been seen by Ferguson beyond 1999. Information on annual support supplied to national training programmes is not held centrally by Scottish Enterprise - although some programmes are currently still in progress. It is therefore not possible to provide an annual breakdown of this total of £147,316.

Tourism

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made, or plans to make, of the importance of pleasure craft-related tourism to the economy.

Patricia Ferguson: Pleasure craft-related tourism is very important to the economy of parts of Scotland. VisitScotland has worked in partnership with Sail Scotland over a number of years to assist in the development of this tourism market and has provided funds to support their marketing and research activity. The most recent research study was carried out at the London Boat Show in 2004 to gain more knowledge about the needs of sailing tourists. This showed a high propensity for existing sailing tourists to return to Scotland. The findings of this study has helped shape VisitScotland’s marketing strategy, which aims at making the most of Scotland’s coastlines and inland water ways for all types of maritime activities. This includes the development of the "SeaScotland" website, a year long campaign for 2005 featuring a comprehensive list of maritime related events, which aims to encourage visitors to make the most of Scotland’s coastlines and inland waterways for all types of activities from boat festivals to maritime exhibitions.

Wildlife

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many licences for the snaring of mountain hares have been issued in each of the last five years; what time period each licence has been issued for, and how many of these licences are currently in effect.

Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is:

  

Year
No. of Licences Issued by SEERAD
Time Period


2005
0
 


2004
2
15 Dec 04 - 31 March 0515 Dec 04 - 31 March 05


2003
2
8 Dec 03 - 31 March 0420 Jan 03 - 31 March 03


2002
0
 


2001
2
3 Jan 02 - 31 March 025 Nov 01 - 31 March 02


Total
6
 



  The licences issued in 2004 expired on 31 March 2005, so none are currently in force.

Wildlife

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the reports returned to it under section 3.10 of the licence conditions for the snaring of mountain hares, how many animals of each species were caught and what their status and fate was, broken down by species.

Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is:

  

Year
Species Snared Under Licence
No. of Licences Issued By SEERAD
Total No. Snared


2005
 
0
 


2004
Mountain hare
2
88


2003
Mountain hare
2
80


2002
 
0
 


2001
Mountain hare
2
90



  Mountain hares are the only species recorded as being caught, and all were killed.